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Just minutes later, at 7:26 p.m., Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin released even more troubling information. He reported that Lakanwal’s authorization to remain in the United States expired two months ago, in September 2025, meaning he has been living illegally since then.
Melugin also noted that Lakanwal came through Biden’s widely criticized “Operation Allies Welcome,” the same program that rushed thousands of Afghans into the country following the administration’s botched Afghanistan exit. Many of those rushed entries reportedly involved reduced vetting, incomplete background checks, and widespread security concerns.
As investigators uncovered more information, the nature of the attack began shifting from a random shooting to something far more sinister. Early reports from sources close to the investigation pointed to a deliberate act using a handgun.
Per NBC’s Tom Winter:
“Two senior U.S. law enforcement officials say that the man they believe is the suspect in today’s National Guard shooting, used a handgun in the attack and has been initially identified as an Afghan national.”
Winters also confirmed earlier that the FBI will “initially investigate the shooting of two members of the National Guard in D.C. as a possible act of terrorism.”
The move to treat this as a terrorism investigation underscores just how serious federal officials believe this situation may be.
Initial rumors circulating online suggested that the two West Virginia National Guard members had died from their injuries. The Gateway Pundit reported that early chatter indicated a grim outcome. However, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey cautioned against premature conclusions, saying there were still conflicting updates regarding their conditions.
West Virginia “will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” Morrisey said.
Witness videos from moments after the shooting showed officers performing CPR on the victims as chaos unfolded around them.
WATCH:
The attack occurred near the White House, prompting an immediate lockdown. Security was tightened across the area as armed officers secured intersections and evacuated pedestrians. The timing, location, and the shooter’s background all contributed to growing fears that the attack may not have been random.
Vice President JD Vance, who was speaking to troops at Fort Campbell at the time, halted his remarks to acknowledge the attack. He urged those gathered to “say a prayer for those two National Guardsmen that they’re able to spend Thanksgiving with their families, instead of losing their lives, because I understand they’re still in pretty tough condition.”
Former President Donald Trump also responded, emphasizing that the suspect had been severely injured during the confrontation. He minced no words in condemning the attacker.
The “animal,” Trump said, “will pay a very steep price.”
This incident is already sparking a national conversation — and outrage — over the administration’s failures surrounding Afghan resettlement and immigration enforcement. A suspect who entered under Biden’s own program, overstayed his legal status, and was allowed to remain in the country long enough to allegedly attack American service members near the White House is a storyline that no one in the administration will be able to easily explain away.
The investigation is ongoing, but one thing is already clear: this attack is yet another stark reminder of the consequences of weak borders, failed vetting, and dangerous national security blind spots.
